KOTA KINABALU: Scuba divers, including experienced ones, must remain aware that depth can impair mental clarity and judgment, warned scuba diving medical adviser Col (Dr) Eugene Tan Choon Li on Tuesday.
He said divers need to understand how increasing depth affects mental status and urged seasoned divers to actively educate others about the real risks of deep diving.
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Dr Tan was speaking after 14 members of the Sabah Dive Squad Club underwent a simulated deep-dive session in the state-of-the-art hyperbaric chamber at the Kota Kinabalu Regional Armed Forces Hospital.
During the 40-minute session, participants were briefly exposed to simulated depths of up to 40 metres and were questioned to demonstrate how cognition can be altered at deeper levels, alongside briefings on risks such as decompression sickness and barotrauma.
Club president Sim Fui said the hands-on experience reinforced the importance of safety, discipline and sound judgment, reminding divers to respect their limits even when diving with passion.
